Third-party accessories can be difficult to trust. These accessories rarely offer any significant advantages to the official products, especially when it comes to controllers. Most of these offer a cheaper price, but come at the cost of poor performance. However, when it comes to the NES Classic Edition, third-party controllers may be the best option.

If you’ve been lucky enough to get your hands on the new version of the original NES, you are well aware of one of the console’s biggest problems: the controller’s short cord. Luckily, some third-party peripheral makers have stepped in to correct Nintendo’s problem. One impressive solution is the My Arcade Gamepad Classic controller.

The Bluetooth controller boasts a solid build, long battery life and a design aesthetic that doesn’t take away from the console’s best feature: nostalgia. Sporting a similar look to the original NES controller, the My Arcade Gamepad Classic may be the best way to play with the NES Classic.

The Classic Experience

When the NES originally released in 1985, video games were very basic. Compared to today’s modern games, the needs for a controller were minimal. Therefore, the My Arcade Gamepad Classic doesn’t need to do much in order to be considered useful. All it has to do is work, and it does incredibly well.

The simple design is classic with a sleek, modern look nearly mirroring the original NES controller. Buttons have significant weight to them, meaning each button press must be deliberate. This keeps accident inputs to a minimum and recreates the feel of the original NES controller. Despite this, the buttons are very responsive.

Simple design and a multi-system plug makes for a great controller.

The best part about the wireless controller is its long range. Players can use it within 25-30 feet of the NES Classic, making it very practical for most gaming setups. Regardless if you are right in front of the console or 20 feet away, the controller is responsive and has no noticeable input lag.

Battery life was also ample during our testing, lasting more than 20 hours. It is powered by two AAA batteries, but doesn’t eat through them quickly.

Not Just the Classics

Another cool feature of the My Arcade Gamepad Classic is that it is not just for use with the NES Classic. It also works with the Wii U and Wii as a classic controller. While the NES Classic Edition offers 30 of Nintendo’s retro titles, you will also be able to use it on many more games through the Virtual Console.

We used the Gamepad Classic Controller on all three systems and found the quality stable across the board. However, it is best for use only on classic titles. Modern titles require more button inputs across a more efficient controller design.

Overall

Priced at $19.99, the My Arcade Gamepad Classic Controller is very inexpensive for a high quality Bluetooth controller. Unless you really want to recreate the feeling of nostalgia by sitting close to the television, the wireless Gamepad Classic may be a better option than the NES Classic’s standard controller.

My Arcade made a lot of smart decisions in keeping its third-party controller simple. Being able to use the controller on any Nintendo system is also a nice touch and puts a nice bow on this well-rounded piece of tech.